Bettie's Books

Saturday Play: The Killing of Sister George 25-04-2009John Tydeman's adaptation of the stage play by Frank Marcus. The audience ratings for the popular daily serial Applehurst are on the slide. Will the leading character have to be sacrificed to save the show?From The TelegraphThis play caused shock, scandal, laughter and admiration in roughly equal quantities when, starring Eileen Atkins and Beryl Reid, it first hit the stage in 1964 and, again in 1969, when it appeared as a film. Written by Frank Marcus, once The Sunday Telegraph’s distinguished drama critic, it’s about a power struggle. BBC executive Mrs Mercy Croft (Anna Massey) has a problem. The daily radio serial, Applehurst, is on the slide. Its heroine, Sister George (Sarah Badel), has been hugely popular but is difficult to manage. She’s also gay, not something the BBC is keen to have in the papers. John Tydeman, BBC veteran, master of Chekhovian emotional gradations, directs its radio premiere.-- Gillian ReynoldsJune Buckridge (Sister George) ................. Sarah BadelAlice 'Childie' McNaught ...................... Lucy WhybrowMrs Mercy Croft ................................ Anna Massey Madme Xenia ................................. Frances JeaterBill ............................................. Tom BevanFred ......................................... Keith DrinkelDirected by John Tydeman.